Gorgeous boots but too tall (ETA outfit photos) - YouLookFab Forum

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Gorgeous boots but too tall (ETA outfit photos)

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

After Angie posted her rave review of the new season J Crew boots

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....boots-sale

I swooned over the taller-shaft version in glossy black faux crocodile finish. Unfortunately I had to pay full price, but they were SO gorgeous and different, I thought they would make a great early birthday present for myself!

Well, they just arrived and the shaft is definitely too tall. The top edge hits at the top of my kneecap, and when I walk they chafe the backs of my thighs.

So I guess I have to decide whether to keep them and have a cobbler shorten the shaft
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....aft-height

or return them and search for a different version. Has anybody seen this kind of flat heel, glossy black, loose-ankle knee boot from other brands? I much prefer knee boots to ankle boots, and usually I have a hard time finding a black finish that I like, but this glossy croc just sent me "over the moon" as Angie would say.

Sorry I can't seem to make a find but here's the link

https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens.....ed-leather

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28 replies

Latest reply was from Jessikams

rachylou

Veteran

I’ve never seen a pair like this. They’re striking. I feel like it’d be hard to find something else like them. Tbh, I’d take them to a cobbler. Lol. That’s what I do when I find something unique: buy it and get someone to beat it into submission

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

They are striking! I feel they look very “haute” like they could be by Celine or something.

Bijou

Veteran

They are beautiful, but getting them cut down does seem like a bother. I found these three boots that are similar from a German retailer that specialises in a number of brands that I like. I have yet to buy from them (as I am here in Australia), but regularly look at this website to see what is likely to come through at a local store who stocks the same brands. As it happened, these high shaft croc boots had caught my eye!

Link to store:

Lüke Schuhe Q505 Women's shoes Boots buy shoes at our Schuhe Lüke Online-Shop (schuhe-lueke.com)

Photos of similar boots, alas not loose ankle - but glossy croc and two are flat. The store is great because they provide measurements of the height of shaft and width.

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Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I really love how they interact with clothes!

Bijou, thanks for those leads— it gives me hope that there are other options out there. Maybe I should take a look around the local shops before I decide.

Bijou

Veteran

I have just looked at your pictures and the wider ankle does really give them that modern edge. They are so perfect for your style and definitely worth taking to a cobbler to see if they could modify them. Of course, you need someone who will do a great job, because modifying these boots is not without risk unfortunately.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if tall-shaft cowboy boots would accomplish a similar vibe…

https://jeffreycampbellshoes.c.....0387660865

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lozz_oz

Veteran

I can see why you fell hard for these boots! Hope you find another pair that does that fit comfortably.

Star

Veteran

I am taken with your outfits - all totally fab!

lyn67

Veteran

Not a help, but hah-I have the same pleated skirt!!! Love it with that top, never occured me to match with other than blacks...hmm-good inspo!

Bijou

Veteran

I think the cowboy boots could work really effectively too. Are they the right shaft length for you?

Anonymous

I wouldn't try to cut them and just look for an alternative.
Bijou's pair #2 can come live with me

RobinF

Veteran

I would definitely look around before deciding which way to go. It seems a bit risky to have them cut down, unless you've done that before? I didn't even know it was a thing - haha.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Agreed, cutting them down adds expense and trouble for an uncertain result.

I guess I should measure my calf height for future reference!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Rotten luck! They look sooo good in these outfits, Jessikams.

Yup. Tall boots are VERY hard to fit if your lower legs are outside the width and height of those very annoying bench mark parameters. With Tanya, I fall outside the width bench mark of tall boots too (very narrow calves). I empathize!

I would return them.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for chiming in Angie. I hope others can enjoy these boots!

Jonesy

Veteran

Very sad--they look so good! I am such a sucker for a reptile texture on a boot. Tall boots are so hard to fit! I love the idea of some tall cowboy boots, but they would definitely bring a different vibe. Antonio Marras just showed his spring RTW collection and featured cowboy boots in some looks, which I loved!

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Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Wow Jonesy those are beautiful looks- thanks for sharing!

N

I'd return them too. My size is really odd too. I can't do tall boots at all because my ankles and calves are always too small. Even ankle boots I have a hard time with as they look to big on me...I've always tended to stay away but I really love the look of boots...

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I also say return. Discomfort is not worth it!

notsaf

Veteran

Too bad! Loeffler Randall used to make a boot like this: flat and not too tall, but it looks like they don't have them anymore. The style was "Matilde." https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOEFF.....gh-boots-9

I suppose these have too much of a heel for you? https://www.aninebing.com/prod.....black-croc

nuancedream

Veteran

Although the boots are beautiful, I would return them. I doubt a cobbler would be able to alter the shaft of the boots to fit you properly and do it at a price that wouldn't be eye watering. Jenni NZ is right on the money. Discomfort is not worth it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh darn! They look very cool, but I don’t think I’d trust in being able to shorten them without affecting the integrity of the style and construction.

I love tall boots and have a few pairs that are all several years old. I’ll be curious to pull them out and try wearing them again.

Jonesy, I’m really intrigued with the photos you shared! The outfits are not really my style, but I have several old pairs of cowboy boots, including a pair in turquoise that look very similar to the ones in the second photo. They’ve been languishing for a few years since the look has not really been on trend. But I’m thinking of dragging them out and trying some stylings with them (besides my old default of throwing a pair of bootcut jeans over them). I wonder if taller cowboy boots — not just the booties — might trend again.

Jonesy

Veteran

IMHO, taller cowboy boots have been having a fashion moment since around 2015-2017, with Hedi Slimane's 2015 men's show for Saint Laurent, and Raf Simons' 2017 show for Calvin Klein (see pics). Both of these designers and shows were quite influential, so there was lots of trickle down as a result, and this article in Glamour from 2019 talks about how trendy cowboy boots are and how often they showed up in designers' shows that year.

https://www.glamour.com/galler.....wboy-boots

Right at this moment, big lug-soled boots are very trendy, but I would say that Western-style boots are still pretty trendy and designers like Isabel Marant feature a version of a tall cowboy boot every season. I love wearing them because they are so comfortable and I love the look (I have a couple of pairs of Frye harness boots).

1-3: Hedi Slimane menswear 2015 Saint Laurent
4-5: Raf Simons 2017 Calvin Klein
6-10: recent street style featuring cowboy boots
11-13: Isabel Marant RTW fall 2021

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh those are great, Jonesy. Definitely some inspiration there for me. I own the boots below and they’ve been going unworn.

I haven’t seen full length cowboy boots at retail in years (other than at the Cavender’s in TX, LOL) so this trend had kind of missed me. Well, that and the style sinkhole that was the year 2020, when the pinnacle of my fashion was Miramar sweatpant jeans. Thanks for sharing, and apologies to Jessikams for the thread tangent!

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jonesy, fab pics! I'm impressed with your detailed designer show knowledge

I think of cowboy boots as an iconic classic, and that's one of the reasons designers enjoy incorporating them into any look! Soooo fab! We will soon see them at the Met Gala and on the Oscars red carpet under a ball gown, tuxedo or kilt

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

What a fun thread! Jessikams I love your swishy skirt outfits and too bad about the boots but Jonesy has wowed me with her perspective and I am going to dust off my cowboy boots right now!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Wow Jonesy great images and thanks for sharing your knowledge! Shevia and Janet I look forward to seeing your cowboy boot outfits. I truly love a good western boot and I feel I come by it honestly, as my dad owned property in the rural, remote mountains of far Northern California when I was growing up. Boots were a necessary precaution against rattlesnakes and stirrup chafe.

Notsaf, those images remind me of some boots I had years ago! I had totally forgotten about them- perhaps that’s why the croc struck a chord!

N, your long legs would look great in boots but you’re right that ankle fit can be tricky. For me it’s always height- so many boots are too short (emphasizing my very round calf) or too tall (constricting knee movement).

JenniNZ and Nuance, I know you’re right. Why keep something that is not exactly right? I will return them even though J crew gave me a retroactive discount….

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

And if anybody’s appetite has been whetted, this season seems to offer tall boots in all colors. Yay! For so long it was only brown or black. Now there’s a whole rainbow out there including these Jeffrey Campbell boots in green and many other colors.

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